This document contains data from the 1996 Census of Population and Housing, and describes the characteristics of people in Western Australia and their housing arrangements. It is just a sample of what is available in the publication series Census of Population and Housing: Selected Characteristics for Urban Centres and Localities (Cat nos 2016.0-7), available for each State and Territory, and nationally.

The data presented in this document relate to where people were counted on census night, and therefore data for each geographical area includes visitors to that area but exclude those people who were away on census night. The document uses both the Urban Centre/Locality (UC/L) and the Section of State (SOS) geographic classifications which classify areas according to size of the population. Whilst the UC/L classification covers only part of the State or Territory, the SOS classification covers the State or Territory in its entirety.

This document presents only a selection of data from the full range of census variables. For further information about other census or Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data refer to the Directory of Census Statistics, 1996 or elsewhere on this site. Concepts and definitions used in this document, including UC/L and SOS, are explained in the Explanatory Notes and more detailed information is available in the Census Dictionary, 1996 (Cat. no. 2901.0)

The ABS draws extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated: without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

M. KonrathRegional Director

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

Since 1991, there had been an 8.8% increase in the number of people counted in the Census (1,726,095) in Western Australia (WA). Almost two-thirds (63.5%) of the people were counted in the Major Urban area of Perth, a slight decrease on the 1991 proportion (64.2%). Conversely, the percentage in the Other Urban area increased from 21.3% in 1991 to 22.8% in 1996.

Of the 73 Urban Centres, the five largest accounted for 71.6% of the State's population:
Perth (1,096,829), Rockingham (49,917), Mandurah (35,945), Kalgoorlie-Boulder (28,087) and Geraldton (25,243).

SEX

In 1996, the numbers of males and females were very nearly equal (862,645 and 863,450 respectively). While the proportion of males was highest in the Rural Balance (54.6%), the proportion of females was highest in the Major Urban area (51.1%). These levels were similar to those of 1991.

The population in WA is aging. In 1996, the median age for WA was 33 years, compared with 31 years in 1991. The proportion of people aged 65 years or more also increased from 9.8% in 1991 to 10.5% in 1996.

In both 1996 and 1991, the Major Urban area recorded the highest proportion of people aged 65 years or more (11.0% and 10.5% respectively) and the Rural Balance recorded the lowest (6.8% and 6.1%). There were proportionally fewer children (0-14 years) in Perth (21.0%) than for the State as a whole (22.4%).

At the UC/L level, the highest percentages of people aged 65 years or more were recorded in Augusta (27.7%), Denham (25.3%), Beverley (L) (21.1%), Exmouth (20.5%) and Onslow (19.9%). The highest proportions of children were recorded in the Indigenous communities of Mungullah (L) (40.2%), Kalumburu (L) (42.9%), Looma (L) (41.8%), Beagle Bay (L) (40.7%) and Bardi (One Arm Point) (L) (38.8%).

BIRTHPLACE

Australian-born

Just over two-thirds (68.3%) of those counted in the Census in WA were Australian-born, a slight decrease since 1991 (69.1%). The Major Urban area recorded a lower percentage than that for the State, in both 1996 (63.6%) and 1991 (64.3%).

The highest proportions of Australian-born people were recorded in the Indigenous communities of Mungullah (L) (100%), Looma (100%), Oombulgurri (98.7%) and Bardi (One Arm Point) (L) (98.4%). The lowest Australian-born proportions were recorded at Yanchep (62.8%), Rottnest Island (L) (60.4%) and Two Rocks (59.9%).

Overseas-born

Of the people counted in WA, 14.7% stated that they had been born in the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland or New Zealand (NZ), a decrease since 1991 (15.7%). The Major Urban area recorded a higher proportion of people born in these countries (15.7% in 1996 and 17.1% in 1991) than the State as a whole. At the UC/L level, high proportions of people born in these countries were recorded in Golden Bay-Singleton, Mundaring, Kwinana, Byford, Two Rocks, Yanchep and Rockingham (ranging from 22.4% to 26.1%).

Around one in eight (12.9%) people counted in WA reported that they had been born overseas in Countries other than the UK, Ireland or NZ, which was similar to the 1991 finding (12.7%). The Major Urban area of Perth recorded the highest proportion of people born in these countries with 16.9% (16.3% in 1991). At the UC/L level, after Perth, the highest proportions were noted in Port Hedland (10.6%), Brunswick Junction (L) (10.0%) and Leinster (9.7%).

INDIGENOUS ORIGIN

The number of people who reported being of Indigenous origin increased by 21.6% between 1991 and 1996, from 41,769 to 50,793. As a proportion of the WA population, this represented an increase in the Indigenous population from 2.6% to 2.9%.

The proportion of Indigenous people was lower in the Major Urban area (1.4% in 1996 and 1.0% in 1991) than in WA as a whole.

There was a large increase (33.6%) in the number of lone person households since 1991. Most of this change occurred in the Major Urban and the Other Urban areas (increases of 25,271 and 7,930 households respectively). The proportions of lone person households ranged from 14.6% in the Rural Balance to 23.8% in Perth.

At the UC/L level, the highest percentages of lone person households were recorded in the Localities of Rottnest Island (40.1%), Beverley (32.8%), Tambellup (31.8%) and Furnissdale (31.2%).

FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN

There were 227,702 family households with dependent children in WA in 1996, compared with 219,224 in 1991. The majority (51.6%) of all family households had at least one dependent child (54.8% in 1991).

The highest percentages of family households with dependen children were in Indigenous communities such as Turkey Creek, Looma, Oombulgurri, Warburton and Mungallah (89.3%, 87.2%, 82.4%, 82.1%, and 81.6%). The UC/Ls of Coral Bay (L) (21.9%), Augusta (29.3%), and Yunderup (31.0%) recorded low percentages.

LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS (For persons aged 15 years and over)

EMPLOYED

In 1996, there were 763,207 employed people in WA compared with 664,265 in 1991, representing an increase of 14.9%. As with the population distribution, about two-thirds of these were in the Major Urban area (64.5% in 1996 and 64.7% in 1991).

Urban Centres with the largest numbers of employed people were Perth (492,553), Rockingham (18,689), Kalgoorlie-Boulder (14,398) and Mandurah (11,891).

Full-time employment

Of the 763,207 people employed in WA, 508,309 (66.6%) worked full-time. This was an increase of 13.3% since 1991 (448,596). Just over two thirds (67.8%) of the full-time workers were male, which was similar to the situation in 1991 (68.3%). The Bounded Locality proportion of full-time male workers (72.8%) was higher than for WA as a whole.

UC/Ls which recorded the highest percentages of full-time male employees were Eneabba (L) (86.7%), Augusta (84.6%), Dardanup (L) (84.1%), Green Head (L) (83.3%) and Koorda (L) (83.2%). The highest percentages of full-time employees who were female were recorded in Turkey Creek (L) and Looma (L) (each 50.0%).

Part-time employment

In 1996, 238,184 people were employed part-time, representing an increase of 31.0% since 1991 (181,809). Approximately two-thirds (66.8%) of these workers were females, compared with 68.1% in 1991. The highest proportion of part-time female workers was recorded in the Major Urban area (67.6%).

Localities which recorded the highest percentages of part-time female employees were
Mukinbudin (82.9%), Koorda (81.1%) and Lake Grace (80.6%). The highest rate for males was recorded in Kalumburu (L) (68.7%).

Occupation

In 1996, about a quarter (25.4%) of employed people were Managers and administrators or Professionals, compared with 24.2% in 1991. In both 1996 and 1991, the Rural Balance recorded the highest percentages in these occupations ( 35.9% and 37.5% respectively). UC/Ls with the highest percentages in 1996 were Point Samson (L) (35.6%) and Halls Creek (32.1%).

In 1996, 9.1% of employed people were Labourers and related workers, compared with 9.2% in 1991. The Bounded Locality proportion for this group was the highest in both 1996 (15.8%) and 1991 (17.5%). Localities with the highest percentages were Looma (76.0%), Bardi (One Arm Point) (59.5%) and Beagle Bay (57.0%).

Industry

Just over one-third of employed people (33.6%) worked in the Manufacturing, Retail trade or Property and business service industries, the top three employing industries in the State. The Major Urban area recorded the highest percentages in both 1996 (36.8%) and 1991 (33.9%).

UC/Ls with the highest levels in these industries were Wundowie (L) (62.5%), North Pinjarra (56.8%), Northcliffe (L) (47.8%) and Wooroloo (L) (46.1%).

Private Sector

The proportion of people employed in the WA private sector increased considerably between 1991 (72.5%) and 1996 (80.1%). In both censuses, the highest proportion was recorded in the Rural Balance (80.5% in 1991 and 83.4% in 1996).

In 93.5% of UC/Ls, the majority of employed people worked in private enterprise.

In 1996, there were 66,830 unemployed people in WA compared with 94,200 in 1991 - a decrease of 29.1%. The overall unemployment rate was 8.1% (12.4% in 1991), while the rate for people aged 15-24 years was 13.7% (21.2% in 1991). Both rates were highest in the Other Urban area (9.0% and 15.3% respectively) and lowest in the Rural Balance (5.7% and 10.3%).

UC/Ls which recorded comparatively high unemployment rates were Dongara (17.7%, 134 people) and Yanchep (16.1%, 109 people). Those which recorded comparatively high rates for people aged 15-24 years were Mandurah (21.6%, 580 people) and Kwinana (21.5%, 298 people).

OCCUPIED PRIVATE DWELLINGS

In 1996, there were 412,520 occupied private dwellings in the Major Urban area accounting for 65.6% of the occupied private dwellings in the State. A further 141,705 occupied private dwellings were located in the Other Urban area (22.5%), while 75,078 were in the Bounded Locality (2.6%) and the
Rural Balance (9.3%).

TENURE TYPE

Fully owned

Almost two-fifths of the occupied private dwellings in WA were fully owned by their occupants (37.0% in both 1996 and 1991). In both 1996 (47.7%) and 1991 (48.1%) the Rural Balance recorded the highest ownership levels.

In 12 (7.1%) of the 168 UC/Ls more than half of the occupied private dwellings were fully owned, the Localities of Coral Bay (59.9%), Quindalup (56.2%) and Furnissdale (55.6%) recording the highest rates.

Being purchased

In 1996, 29.8% of the occupied private dwellings in WA were being purchased by their occupants, virtually unchanged from 29.5% in 1991. The Major Urban area recorded the highest percentage in both 1996 (31.2%) and 1991 (32.4%).

High levels of homes being purchased were recorded in the UC/Ls of Paraburdoo (73.8%),
Tom Price (67.1%) and Dampier (63.6%).

Rented

In 1996, 28.4% of the occupied private dwellings in WA were being rented, compared with 27.8% in 1991. The Bounded Locality recorded the highest percentage in both 1996 (35.5%) and 1991 (36.4%).

Extremely high percentages of homes being rented were recorded in the Indigenous communities of Looma (L) (100%), Bardi (One Arm Point) (L) (95.5%) and Warburton (L) (94.1%).

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

The median household weekly income in 1996 of $657 showed an increase of 18.2% over 1991 ($556). In 1996 the State median was exceeded by that of the Major Urban area ($665).

Urban Centres associated with mining recorded the highest median household incomes: Leinster ($1,597), Dampier ($1,492), Kambalda West ($1,334) and Tom Price ($1,262). The lowest were recorded in the south-western Localities of Hopetoun ($365), Wundowie ($369), and Beverley ($376).

HOUSING LOAN REPAYMENTS

Between 1991 and 1996, the median monthly housing loan repayment for the State increased by 42.1%, from $523 to $743. In both censuses, the highest median housing loan repayment was recorded for the Rural Balance ($800 in 1996 and $587 in 1991).

Median housing loan repayments ranged from $228 in Paraburdoo to $1,000 in Broome.

RENT PAYMENTS

The median weekly rent payment for WA increased by 17.0% between 1991 ($94) and 1996 ($110). The 1996 median weekly rent recorded for the Major Urban area was the highest in both 1996 ($120) and 1991 ($106).

(a) For census purposes, people who stated they were employed, but worked zero hours in the week prior to census night have been coded to 'part time'.(b) Includes people who did not state the number of hours worked.

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